Intramural Sports Field Hockey Rules INCIDENTAL CONTACT IS POSSIBLE IN FIELD HOCKEY AND INJURIES ARE A POSSIBILITY. JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY RECREATION ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITIES FOR INJURIES. BASIC FIRST-AID AND CPR WILL BE AVAILABLE WHEN NECESSARY. Changes from last year’s rules are indicated by a gray highlight. RULE 1 – THE FIELD OF PLAY SECTION 1 – SIZE OF THE FIELD Article 1. The field of play is rectangular, approximately 80 yards in length and 40 yards in width. SECTION 2 – MARKINGS Article 1. Side lines mark the longer perimeters of the field, and back lines mark the shorter perimeters of the field. Article 2. The goal lines are the parts of the back lines that are between the goal posts. SECTION 3 – GOALS Article 1. Goals are positioned outside the field of play at the center of and touching each back line. RULE 2 – TEAM COMPOSITION SECTION 1 – NUMBER OF PLAYERS Article 1. The game shall be played by two teams, each consisting of not more than 7 players on the field at one time. A game shall not be started with fewer than 5 players. Article 2. Field hockey is a women’s league sport. Since there is not a men’s league offered for field hockey, 2 males are allowed on each team’s roster. However, only one male can be on the field at a time. Article 3. All participants must be listed on the official team roster prior to their participation in any Intramural Sports activity. Roster provisions are outlined in the Intramural Sports Manual, which can be found on the UREC – Intramural Sports website. Article 4. If, at game time, one team has not met the minimum player requirement and their opponents have, the Captain’s Choice rule will go into effect. Captain’s Choice provisions are outlined in the Intramural Sports Manual, which can be found on the UREC – Intramural Sports website. James Madison University 1 Intramural Sports SECTION 2 – POSITION OF PLAYERS Article 1. Each team shall play with only field players. No players on the field shall have goalkeeping privileges or wear a different color of shirt. SECTION 3 – SUBSTITUTIONS Article 1. Each team is permitted to substitute from its players not on the field of play, and there is no limit to the number of substitutions a team is allowed at one time or throughout the game. Article 2. Substitutions are permitted: a. After a goal, b. To replace an injured player, c. At halftime, d. On a free hit. Article 3. Exiting players and entering substitutes must leave and enter the field of play for substitution purposes within 3 yards of the center line on the same side of the field as their team bench area. Article 4. A player who is injured, bleeding, has an open wound, has any amount of blood on his/her uniform or has blood on his/her person shall be directed to leave the activity until the bleeding has stopped, the wound is covered, the uniform and/or body is appropriately cleaned, and/or the uniform is changed before returning to competition. That player shall leave the field and may be replaced. SECTION 3 – TEAM CAPTAINS Article 1. Each team must designate a team captain. Team captains are responsible for: a. Behavior of all players on their teams b. Ensuring that substitutions of players on their teams are carried out correctly. RULE 3 – PLAYER’S CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENT SECTION 1 – REQUIRED EQUIPMENT Article 1. Field players of the same team must wear same color or similarly-colored shirts or jerseys. Article 2. Each player must wear a mouth guard and eye protection while playing. Article 3. Each player must wear appropriate footwear. Multi-purpose or turf plastic cleated footwear may be worn. Article 4. UREC will provide sticks and field hockey balls. Participants may use their own sticks as long as the stick does not have any rough or sharp parts or anything that may be dangerous to other players. James Madison University 2 Intramural Sports SECTION 2 – RECOMMENDED/OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT Article 1. UREC will provide shin guards for any and all players to wear. Article 2. Players may wear soft, pliable gloves as long as they do not have hard and/or unyielding materials or materials dangerous to other players in them. SECTION 3 – ILLEGAL EQUIPMENT Article 1. No players shall wear any of the following: a. Jewelry of any kind; NOTE: Medical alert bracelets/necklaces are legal but must be visible and taped to the body. b. Headgear; c. Shoulder pads or body pads; d. Baseball caps; e. Bandanas with knots; f. Any other unyielding equipment or equipment deemed by the Intramural Sports staff to be dangerous to self or others. RULE 4 – MATCH AND RESULT SECTION 1 – TIMING Article 1. A match consists of two 20-minute halves. The clock will run continuously for the first 38 minutes of game time, and it will only stop for time-outs. In the final two minutes of the second half, the clock will stop on every whistle. Article 2. The halftime intermission shall be no longer than 5 minutes. Article 3. Each team shall be allowed 2 time-outs per half, and each timeout shall last no longer than 1 minute. A time-out can be called after a goal or during any dead ball situation. SECTION 2 – SCORING Article 1. A goal is scored when the ball passes completely over the goal line and under the cross bar. The ball may be played by a defender or touch their body before or after being played by an attacker. Article 2. If the goal differential is 5 goals or more with 5 minutes or less remaining in the second half, the game shall be ended. Article 3. Games ending in a tie during the regular season shall be recorded as a tie and no overtime will be played. SECTION 3 – OVERTIME Article 1. Games ending in a tie during the playoffs will be followed by a 3-minute overtime period. James Madison University 3 Intramural Sports Article 2. The clock will run continuously (except for a team or official’s time-out) until the final minute of the overtime period. In the final minute, the clock will stop on all officials’ whistles. Article 3. Each team is allowed one time-out for each overtime period. Time-outs do not carry over from regulation into the overtime period. Article 4. The first team to score a goal in the overtime period will be declared the winner. If no goal is scored in the first overtime period, subsequent overtime periods will occur until a winner is declared. RULE 5 – PLAYING THE GAME SECTION 1 – STARTING AND RE-STARTING THE MATCH Article 1. A coin is tossed to start the match, and the captain of the visiting team shall call the toss. 1. The team that wins the toss has the choice of which goal to attack in the first half of the match or to start the match with a center pass. 2. If the team winning the toss chooses which goal to attack in the first half of the match, the opposing team, starts the match with a center pass. 3. If the team winning the toss chooses to start the match with a center pass, the opposing team has the choice of which goal to attack in the first half of the match. Article 2. Direction of play is reversed in the second half of the match and the team that chose which goal to attack in the first half will start the second half with a center pass. Article 3. A center pass: a. Is taken to start the match by a player from the team winning the toss if they chose this option; otherwise by a player from the opposing team; b. Is taken to re-start the match after half-time by a player of the team which did not take the center pass to start the match; c. Is taken after a goal by a player of the team against which the goal was scored; d. Is taken at the center of the field; e. Is permitted to travel in any direction; Article 4. During a center pass, all players other than the player taking the center pass must be at least 5 yards from the ball and on the half of the field which contains the goal they are defending. Article 5. No penalty corners shall be taken. A free hit shall be awarded to the offended team for any offenses committed by the attacking team or the defending team. During a free hit, all players besides the player taking the free hit shall be at least 5 yards from the ball. The ball must travel 5 yards before a shot is taken on goal. Article 6. In the event of the ball traveling out of bounds or an offense occurs, a player from the offended team can play the ball directly without passing and the procedures for taking a free hit apply. SECTION 2 – BALL OUTSIDE THE FIELD Article 1. The ball is out of play when it passes completely over the sideline or backline. James Madison University 4 Intramural Sports Article 2. Play is re-started by a player of the team which was not the last team to touch or play the ball before it went out of play. Article 3. When the ball travels over the sideline, play is re-started where the ball crossed the line and the procedures for taking a free hit apply.